Pharmacy Technician

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 46,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Pharmacy Technician at the GS-07 level to mentor and train lower grade technicians in a VA Healthcare System setting. The incumbent will assist pharmacists to provide optimal care and timely service consistent with VA mission and goals.

Required qualifications include U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, and national certification (PTCB or ExCPT). Experience or education alternatives are described in the qualification standards.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship required; non-citizens may be appointed only as allowed by VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English for appointment as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• For all grade levels accepting education and experience, combinations totaling at least 100% are qualifying.

Skills

Pharmacy principles

Prescription processing

Issue resolution

Training others

Dispensing medications

ADE troubleshooting

Job description

Pharmacy Technicians above the full performance level can mentor and train lower grade technicians in the practice setting. The employee will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission, vision, and goals of the VA Healthcare System and Pharmacy.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education or Experience.
  • None required.
  • For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify, equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying. The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level.
• Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR
  • National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, the following criteria must be met.

Pharmacy Technician, GS-07.

Experience.

Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Certification.

For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (a) PTCB as a CPhT. OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).

• (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
• (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
• (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers.
• (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
• (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.

Preferred Experience:

None.

Reference:

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.

Physical Requirements:

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.